Chapter 10: HALL OF FAME

Well am I updating a day early? YES! Why? BECAUSE I WILL BE BUSY TOMORROW AND I DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE MY READERS FEEL SAD  ^_~

CHAPTER-10:

Hall Of Fame Language: English

Yeah, you can be the greatest, you can be the best
You can be the King Kong bangin' on your chest
You can beat the world, you can beat the war
You can talk to God, go bangin' on his door

You can throw your hands up, you can beat the clock (Yeah)
You can move a mountain, you can break rocks
Some will call it practice, some will call it luck
But either way you're going to the history book

Standin' in the Hall of Fame (Yeah)
And the world's gonna know your name (Yeah)
'Cause you burn with the brightest flame (Yeah)
And the world's gonna know your name (Yeah)
And you'll be on the walls of the Hall of Fame

You can go the distance, you can run the mile
You can walk straight through hell with a smile
You can be a hero, you can get the gold
Breakin' all the records they thought never could be broke (Yeah)

Do it for your people, do it for your pride
How you ever gonna know if you never even try?
Do it for your country, do it for your name
'Cause there's gon' be a day, when you're

Standin' in the Hall of Fame (Yeah)
And the world's gonna know your name (Yeah)
'Cause you burn with the brightest flame (Yeah)
And the world's gonna know your name (Yeah)
And you'll be on the walls of the Hall of Fame

On the walls of the hall of fame

Be students, be teachers
Be politicians, be preachers
Yeah

Be believers, be leaders
Be astronauts, be champions
Be truth-seekers

Be students, be teachers
Be politicians, be preachers
Yeah

Be believers, be leaders
Be astronauts, be champions

Standing in the hall of fame (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
And the world's gonna know your name (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
'Cause you burn with the brightest flame (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
And the world's gonna know your name (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
And you'll be on the walls of the hall of fame

You could be the greatest, you can be the best
You can be the King Kong banging on your chest

You could beat the world, you could beat the war
You could talk to God, go banging on his door
You can throw your hands up, you can beat the clock
You can move a mountain, you can break rocks

Some will call it practice, some will call it luck
But either way you're going to the history books

Standing in the hall of fame

HALL OF FAME

As Imlie and Niti entered the hostel, the warden came running to them. She was extremely worried; why wouldn't she be? Imlie's joggers were filled with blood and so her full sleeves of the top she was wearing and Niti smelled like straight out of a Hospital.

"My Goodness, Imlie, is your relative okay? You guys look so exhausted"
"Ma'am a little okay now" replied Imlie.
"Ratna, please turn on the geezer of the third floor bathrooms" the warden shouted at the top of her lungs.

The helping hand lady of the hostel ran upstairs to turn on the geezer.

"Thank you ma'am for worrying about us. When we were on the way to the hospital there was an accident. We tried to help that person and at that time our clothes got drenched with blood" added Niti.

"He Bhagwan(Oh My God) that's really sad to hear. Please go take a bath and rest a little. You guys must be exhausted"

The clock in the hall struck its hour hand at nine. The advantage of private vehicles over public made them reach the hostel in less than five hours.

Imlie didn't say much and went to the bathroom with her gamcha(Cotton towel). As she stood below the shower she remembered her moments in the car,

"So what business?" asked Harshit.
"I haven't decided it, but maybe something related to journalism only"
"Oh, will you start immediately?"
"Yes, I know right now the case that is becoming your headache is the case of Ashutosh Rana, the famous businessman"
"Now, how do you know that?"
"Media is trying to cover every move of the police and this chaos has made it possible for a noob like to also know the world. By the way prime suspect had ran away too. Isn't it?"
"I can't deny that's why I hate media, they just bloody ruin our efforts most of the time"
"Mr. Khurana for your kind information we both are from this field," Niti cut Harshit in the middle.
Harshit rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Whatever your personal feelings are, I don't care brother. But my proposal is that me and Niti will help you in cases and record them too. You just need to avoid the media from the missions which fall under the special cases and they can get the materials from us also it can be better for confidential cases too. One is better than hundreds isn't it?" said Imlie.

"Wouldn't that monopolize the materials?"
"Nope only the materials of those cases where we would help you or the force to solve, we won't cover any other materials. It's just that I want them to pay for the materials to us which will take our hard work to gather. Once we gather enough I want to establish a media house of my own maybe in the future"
"Why don't you be an agent instead?" asked Harshit.
"I would multitask anyways" replied Imlie.
"Imlie, I will be your right hand" said Niti with excitement.

Imlie opened her cap and put it on Aryan's head so that even if he wakes up, he won't be able to see Imlie's face till he doesn't sit straight.

"Also I need to withdraw the check that your man Mahesh gave me. Who would ever say the guy who looks like a goon is actually a spy of the police forces" remarked Imlie.
"You seem to know everything Imlie" stated Harshit.
"I guess, I know a little less to be a threat. Also I will need a pass for myself and Niti to freely move in and out of the hostel. Both of us will work as volunteers. I hope you don't want to lose assets. Or do you?"

Harshit thought for a while and said, "I will think and decide in this matter"
"Okay, as you wish. Just inform me when you decide," replied Imlie.

After the shower which was almost for an hour as Imlie took her time trying to get rid of the blood's smell, she went to her room and saw Niti with her luggage.

"What are you doing in my room?" asked Imlie.
"I asked the warden to shift our roommates together in one room, I want to stay with you"
"And the warden got ready for it?"
"Yes, she even praised our bonding. She remembered her own best friend after seeing our friendship"
"Like dissolves like I guess", remarked Imlie when her cell beeped with the arrival of a message.

Imlie checked the message and smiled.

Niti looked at Imlie's face with curiosity. Imlie turned towards her and said, "Niti get your laptop we have works to do also don't forget the USB"
"What message did you see to make you smile?"
"It's from Harshit. Wait, sorry for being inconsiderate of you. Do you want to work with me? I kind of took you for granted"
"Take me for life, I definitely want to work with you as I said beforehand. I will be your right hand."

Imlie smiled at Niti's words and looked at the screen of her cell. She surfed through the internet and took out a list of Delhi based media houses which have news channels, it was eight in number but she chose the four houses which were most famous. After that she scribbled something in her notepad and handed it to Niti.

Imlie said, "Niti, type this email and send it to the email addresses I gave you but just make a new email address before in the name of 'Miss I', don't use your personal email address. And write the passwords and everything related to the new email in this notepad and give it back to me. Also give this number to them in the email and one picture from the pictures you took in Pagdandia. "

"Okay, boss."

Niti and Imlie decided together the single picture they would send to the media outlets attached with the email.

After that Imlie took out a new sim from the drawer of the study table which was given by the hostel to every hosteler and put it in her mobile. She bought this extra sim the day she bought her new cell and the regular sim. Niti did everything at Imlie's instructions and half an hour later calls started to flood in.

"Hello Miss I speaking" Imlie picked up every call that made her cell ring.

She decided to give pictures and videos of the Pagdandia Terrorist attack taken by Niti to the media outlets with a cost bargain of seventy five thousand to eighty thousand and one extra condition. They could only access all the materials only if the condition which was given before gets fulfilled. She said that she specially took the materials from the villagers and none could have their hands on it except the ones she was giving voluntarily, if they deny they would lose the golden opportunity. Imlie even informed they would take only internet banking as the means of payment as her business account has already been activated. She was extremely grateful to Harshit to show this amount of trust in her and Niti.

"We need to get our business license soon," said Niti.
"Yes, let's apply for it today"
"Okay, but two houses decided to give us the money as checks"
"Then I will go to the court for the license application and you pick up the checks. Just make sure you stay anonymous"
"Mask aha... and also the sun is telling me to cover my face" replied Niti.

Suddenly Niti's phone rang and she went out of the room, to the corridor to pick up the call. Imlie sat and thought how things are proceeding now according to her plan. The Terrorist Attack brought a golden opportunity to start things early indeed.

"Hello Mousi"
"Beta how are you? You haven't called us yesterday night so I was quite tensed for you"
"Oh, Mousi yesterday I was quite tired. And as it rained I slept early"
"Niti..."
"Yes"
"You don't sleep early, beta why are you lying?"
"Mousi..."
"I know you don't want to worry me but are you taking your medication?"
"Actually my tablets finished, I will buy today again"
"We are not near you, please take of yourself beta"
"I will try my best"

Niti came inside after she was done with her conversation on the phone and sat in front of her laptop again.

Imlie exclaimed."Niti you are done with all the calls?"

"Yes, behen(Sis) I must tell you, the best thing I did in my life is maybe friendship with you. The adrenaline rush I am feeling from yesterday is the best"

"Do you like such risky situations?"

"Not completely but I know I will be safe with you"

"Why are you trusting me so much?"

"Because I am good in judging people Imlie. I know you have some huge secret which you won't say to anyone but believe me my heart says life will be fun if I am around you"

Imlie smiled at Niti's words and asked, "To stay with me you need to learn to fight"

"Oh yes, you are a martial arts expert. Will you teach me too?"

"I can actually. Will you like to learn Mix martial arts?"

"Yes, definitely"

"I will take your class from tomorrow morning then."

"Yeah it will be too much fun."

"Okay, would you like to go out and pick up the checks then you can sleep after we return?"

"Yes, Money is money, money I am coming!"

"And money is love" , Imlie completed the sentence for her.

"But Imlie why did you choose the name Miss I? You could stay anonymous."

Imlie smiled and replied, "Because one day this name, 'Miss I' will be in the hall of fame. Mark my words"

Niti smiled back at Imlie's reply.

The clock struck eleven and the news channel airing on the television in the hall of the 'Bhaskar times' Newspaper's main office building caught the Chief Editor's attention. He was a man in his fortees, he left his cabin, made his way to the hall and pressed the television's remote for more volume.

"After today's biggest news about the terrorists attack in Pagdandia we are coming up with the latest suspicion. How did Bhaskar Times cover the news before any media outlets? Even the police confirmed that the whole mission was a top secret operation but here we have pictures of the national award winning journalist Aditya Kumar Tripathi and his team being there at morning 5:00 am. How did Bhaskar Times and their journalist know about everything? Is there more to what meets the eye?"

"What utter bullshit?" exclaimed the Chief Editor and switched to a different news channel, there was no more such news but as he switched to the next channel which was the most famous Delhi based news channel, the news got him to sweat.

"As you can see, that's Aditya Kumar Tripathi and his team outside the house where the terrorists kept the villagers and famous business man Aryan Singh Rathore as hostages. The team was there at 5:00 am. At that time none of the media houses knew about this crisis in Pagdandia, even though we were not aware about it when we got this news our team hurried over there only to not find anything left as the police had already cleared the scene. But a villager said to us that Bhaskar Times sent their reporters early, so we investigated a little and found these pictures of Aditya Kumar Tripathi with his team. And we were able to ask a few questions to the police superintendent who is supervising the area now from Chautaalgarh Police Station. Please have a look in his statement"

The screen showed a video from Pagdandia.

"Sir, two minutes please"
"Yes"
"Sir, which media outlet arrived first in here to cover this gruesome attack?"
"It was Bhaskar Times"
"Sir how did you know?"
"Because their team leader met me immediately after they arrived here"
"Sir, when did Bhaskar Times arrive here? I mean the time"
"It was morning 5:15 am I suppose. I was checking to see if any bodies were left after clearing up the place. As you can see a special operation took place here by the special forces yesterday night. And many terrorists died in the encounter"
"Sir, did Bhaskar Times surprise you?"
"Indeed, when Mr. Aditya showed me his identity card I was confused. The whole mission was confidential and for Bhaskar times to reach here from Delhi at five o'clock they must have started their journey at midnight which should have been kind of impossible as none knew there was a terrorist attack in Pagdandia."
"Thank you for your time Sir"

The police officer left and the reporter turned her face towards the camera.
"So, this was the statement from the police officer himself, I am reporter Stuti with cameraman Hasan", said the reporter.

The channel's screen changed back to the anchor in the studio.

"As all of you heard, it takes five hours to reach Pagdandia from Delhi. How did Bhaskar Times manage to not only reach there but also publish a detailed article on this attack when no newspaper was able to publish this news today? Is this just a mystery? If the police force hadn't informed Bhaskar Times, how did they know about the attack in Pagdandia? And if they had known it from terrorists themselves why didn't they inform the police forces. We got a statement from the police that they came to know about it when the terrorists called Aryan Singh Rathore's family for money. Even if they got informed later they should have shared this information with other media outlets too, as a 'Terrorist Attack' is a matter of 'National Interest'. No newspaper owns it, to know more keep an eye on Delhi News. Now it's time for a break, we promise you to bring real pictures from the Pagdandia attack in two hours"

'They are really reliable and quite extra I guess, hence they succeeded in capturing the market' thought Imlie looking at the news on a TV inside a television showroom. She had applied for the business license and was on her way back to the hostel and Niti had already withdrawn the checks. The business account showed her a savings of 4,60,000. She was standing on the road outside the showroom and smiled at the extra efforts Delhi News had put on getting the supervising police's statements on Aditya and his team's early arrival.

Was Aditya the only aim of Imlie?

Imlie checked out the stock's price in the share market and exclaimed, "Imlie have a little patience dear and wait till 2:00 pm today when the news will spread in every channel."
And she made her way back to the hostel.

The Bhaskar Times, which was one of the Highest selling newspapers in Delhi and UP, was in front of a huge controversy. On one side their newspapers were selling well but on the other side every news channel on TV was questioning Bhaskar Times perfect coverage of the Pagdandia Attack. Their Chief Editor was hundred percent sure now that tomorrow morning every newspaper outlet will also cover this news of the absurd perfect coverage and criticize them but didn't expect an 'Emergency' situation yet..

The Chief Editor of Bhaskar Times switched off the television in anger without knowing that the extra sale they expected for the whole day will also reduce after 2:00 pm and so there would be the first fall of their shares in their history.

It was two o'clock and Imlie brought a few shares of 'Bhaskar Times' as they hit low of all times. There was a war in social media platforms like Twitter where every different media houses was shaming 'Bhaskar Times' irresponsible attitude of not informing about the terrorist attack which was a matter of national interest to others. Now the war has seen a huge number of fresh joins as more public became aware of this, the more rise of tweets against 'Bhaskar Times' were seen.

"Did I make a blunder out of Bhaskar Times? But more is about to come. Guess I need to visit the fight club for money tomorrow. Hope there would be wealthy people to bet huge amounts of cash." murmured Imlie with an evil smile.

Niti was out to buy some juice hence missed to see the evil smile on Imlie's face.

Suddenly her cell phone rang and it was a call from Harshit. She picked it up.

"How much did you earn from selling information?"
"Bro, you already gave me permission for it"
"Just keep everything in your care"
"Don't worry I know the boundary line, if I cross that this method might turn to a crime"
"Hmm, glad you understood the risk. I am outside your College's entrance. Come out fast"
"Okie Dokie" Imlie kept her cell and went to wear her salwar as she planned to talk and discuss with Harshit at the park.

Harshit came to City College's entrance and waited for Imlie to come out of the hostel. He looked at his watch and it was 3:00 pm sharp.

Niti, who was returning with some medicines and juice, saw him at the college entrance.

"Oho Mr. Kharoos Khurana. What's up?" she called.
Harshit looked at her from top to bottom, she was in her pajamas and a cotton top.
"From where?"
"Shops, can't you guess from the packets even after being an IPS officer?"
Harshit rolled his eyes.
"Why would I know everything about you?"
"Because I am Niti"
"When you don't know what to say but you still need to answer to not admit defeat; that's what you just portrayed right now"
"Did I? Well leave that and take this", Niti handed a 'Frooti' packet to him.
"Why this?"
"As a token of thanks. At the end I can't deny the fact that you didn't stop me from playing songs in your car"
"For that I even drove faster than usual so that my ears are saved" said Harshit as he remembered Niti's words on music as a personal choice but didn't want to credit her so said something triggering.
"You still haven't stopped being mean," said Niti with a smile.
"By the way take this" said Harshit and handed her a piece of paper.
"What's this?"
"Submit this to your College Principal's office with a xerox of your voter ids. Also get a xerox of this too and submit in your hostel. This will allow both of you to freely move in and out of the hostel in any hour. Just don't misuse this power; it has a seal from the special police forces."
"Oh my, if I misuse this wouldn't I end up in jail?"
"You will actually, and this your card as a volunteer of the special forces. I will hand Imlie's card to her. You better get a xerox of that paper and do the things that needs to be done for the permission"
"Okay."

As Niti was reading the piece of paper, her packet fell down. Both Harshit and Niti bend to pick it up when Harshit's attention went to the medicines in her packet. He tried to look in them when Niti noticed his eyes on the medicines; she picked up the packet immediately collecting everything. She said goodbye without wasting an extra single second and went inside the College's main entrance leaving Harshit surprised with her sudden hastiness.

But he was an officer who was known for his intelligence. He took out his cell phone and typed the name of the medicine in google. The information he found threw him into a pit of confusion. The medicine was an anti-depressant which isn't given to anyone easily without any prescription. And it would only be given with a fresh prescription from a doctor, every time one goes to buy it.

As Niti was hurrying she bumped into Imlie who was on her way out to meet Harshit.
"Oh Niti, you returned back?"
"Yes, I met Mr. Kharoos outside" said Niti trying to get her composure back.
"Did he give you that paper?"
"Oh yes, he told me the procedure. If we submit this to the office and hostel we will be allowed to move in and out anytime freely."
"But I am going out with Harshit and the office will close at four o'clock. It's already 3:12 pm"
"Don't worry I will do this work, I am free anyways"
"Niti you hadn't slept from yesterday"
"So do you and for your information, I actually have insomnia. So I am okay, now Harshit is waiting for you. Go tension free, I will finish this task"

Imlie patted Niti's shoulders and left.

Niti looked at the direction where Imlie went and tried to assure herself, "I only told half of my story to her, if she gets her hands on my medicines I will face a lot of questions. No Niti, the doctor said you should never remember anything from that time till you are not ready. Now you have a family, your mousi, mousa and even your brother. Be brave, you assure them before coming here that you will take care of yourself. You need to hide these medicines in the cupboard which has the locking feature, Imlie shouldn't find these at any costs."

Aditya was walking past the gate of his house, he didn't know why he took the worst decision of visiting Chavi's parents today. He had just returned from his journey from Pagdandia and was not aware of the problems 'Bhaskar Times' was facing. He was worried about the circumstances he faced today, on one hand he wanted to find Ahana, on the other hand he needed to marry Chavi at any cost. He was annoyed, angry and frustrated at his own fate. From the very moment he got blurred glimpses of Ahana he just wants to meet her but he doesn't know where she is right now. He neither remembers her face nor the tattoo which was haunting him. But Chavi, that girl's fate was making him helpless. He had no other choices left.

He entered the house and saw his Bari maa about to slap Chavi on some matter and ran to block her. The slap went across his own left cheek. Rukmini was surprised and was taken aback.

"Is that how you all treated her when I was not here?" asked Aditya feeling disappointed at his own family.

"That girl broke all the photo frames" said Aditya's bari maa aka Rukmini.
"That was a tit for tat because you want me to be a maid here, I was never taught to work at my home. I was my parent's princess and if I had sneezed for once they would even bring doctors from the city" replied Chavi.

But as Chavi said those lines Aditya's face darkened and had a gloomy expression. He felt down and replied, "Bari maa, I and Chavi will have a court marriage in three days."

"What?" Chavi almost screamed in panic.

But Aditya ignored and continued, "So please refrain from using violence as this marriage will be legalized soon and then she could easily charge you with domestic violence. And as a journalist with morals I won't step behind in writing about this in paper even if it would happen in my family"
"Adi, are you threatening me?"
"If it feels like one then I am, why can't you and maa behave with her just like you used to behave with Malini?"

"Because she is not Malini", said Aparna who had just come out from the kitchen.

"Maa?"
"Look Adi, Malini is a kind girl even though she belongs to such a rich family she didn't hesitate to accept us middle class people. She had been waiting for so many years for you and you guys, you didn't have a one year fling. Your relationship was of twelve years. Twelve isn't just a number Adi, you guys were a happy couple. What happened in the last few days that you decided to break up with her? And now married a village girl who neither belongs to our class nor has learnt how to behave. Do you know what kind of atmosphere she made today morning when Malini visited?"
"Malini visited today?" asked Aditya.
"I wasn't aware of that lady, but she came directly to the room I was in and tried to slap me so I twisted her wrist. But your family isn't any saint either, they had starved me, neither breakfast was given nor lunch so when your Bari maa asked me to clean the house in this odd hour I broke the photo frames willingly" said Chavi.
Aditya listened to Chavi and exclaimed, "Chi! Maa and Bari maa you both had forgotten how to be a human even. Worst example of a human being. Are you really my family who used to be kind or the kindness was always limited?"

Aparna screamed in frustration with tears in her eyes, "Adi don't forget I had shown you this world. I gave you birth, and you can't talk with your elders in this manner"

Aditya held Chavi's hands and made his way with her to the kitchen. He ignored Aparna and Rukmini. He set a plate for her with chapatis and fried mixed vegetables. As she was standing behind him, he turned and gave her the plate to her. He said, "Don't forget to have this after you finish the things on your plate, the 'Gajar ka halwa(sweet dish made with carrots)', my mother makes is the best one in this world"

Chavi gave a sly smile as Adi was leaving and exclaimed, "Aditya Kumar Tripathi"

Aditya stood near the kitchen door with his back towards Chavi and heard Chavi's words.
"Your ex will come to visit you tomorrow morning again so make sure you are available to her and you are no saint either else you hadn't announced about the court marriage when you know I don't want to be with you. So now who is worse? Your family, you or me because if this continues I will definitely end up breaking necks here"

Aditya left the kitchen as Chavi took a bite of her food. She particularly avoided the 'Gajar ka halwa' as she didn't want to have even a single sweet memory from this place.

On Imlie's suggestion Harshit came with her to the park nearby and sat there on a bench with her to discuss things about the business.

"This is your card, Niti's one I have given to her"
"Thank you bro and take this" Imlie handed an envelope to Harshit.
"What's this?"
"The lead to the prime suspect you lost"

Harshit opened the envelope and saw a map of Delhi, some spots were marked with red pen.
"Are you sure you don't know too much?"
"I am just a kid of eighteen but this one is to thank you for doing things faster for me."
"Sometimes you feel a lot older than you seem to be. By the way, how are you proceeding?"
"I did apply today for the business license in the court. Also I will need one more thing"
"What?"
"Access of information"
"That's something..."
"I know it's hard for you to make it accessible to me. But I will use it in your or other officers presence"
"From information I remember one thing"
"What?"
"Did you used the terrorist's laptop?"
"No, is there any information missing?"
"No, I tried to ask him but his tongue is missing"
"Oh sorry during the fight I ended up cutting his tongue"
"Why so brutal?"
"Who knows? You have seen already how cold blooded I am"
"You are, so let's work together from now on. I fear you will end up in jail if I don't keep an eye on you. Also you called me brother now I am kind of responsible for you."
Imlie smiled at Harshit's words and said "Okay, till the time I become successful and quit it myself I will help the forces"

Harshit and Imlie shake their hands.

"Okay I will leave now, as you gave me a lead. I need to hurry up in finding things."
"Bye", Imlie waved her hands.

As Harshit was leaving he stopped for a second and thought about asking Niti's medication but shook his head as a disapproval to himself and left.

Imlie sighed thinking about how the day went so fast, now exhaustion was creeping in her veins. Suddenly her senses got sensitive as she felt like someone was looking at her from far.

"Who's there?" she yelled as she turned around.

"Seems like you found another handsome man to compliment"

Imlie saw Aryan standing with the yellow umbrella with daisies in his hand. That was the same umbrella she lent him the Sunday before when she first met him in this life. The umbrella she bought had a meaning for her; it would represent the sunshine in her life with the yellow and the daisies will be her favorite people. He isn't one of the daisies for her or the bright yellow color but the shaft of the umbrella which holds her whole being.

"Jai Sita Maiyya, handsome lad"
"Damn, first time I am hearing Sita Maiyya and the word lad together"
"Is it? Then I will greet you this way every time we meet"
"Do you have more flirtatious words?"
"I actually do. Want to hear them?"
"No, take this and I am leaving"
As Aryan forwarded his hand to give the umbrella she held his wrist and pulled him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he exclaimed as he was forcefully made to sit down on the bench.
"Everything I guess, but you tell me what's wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me?"
"You are bandaged Mister, your head especially"
"I bumped into the wall"
"Oh really?"
"Yes"
"But this looks like a serious injury"
"It's not"
"Achha(Well) what's your name?"
"Aryan Singh Rathore"
"Oh the one who was kidnapped by terrorists"
"Yes"

This time Aryan looked at her.
She gave a faint smile and exclaimed, "So it's indeed a serious injury"
"No" Aryan spoke with a soft voice.
"It must be hard right?"
"What?"
"Bearing the fear alone."
"No, it's just a common..." he stopped with his words as he looked to his left.
Imlie had turned to her right a little, resting her right arm on the backrest of the bench though she was sitting with her right leg crossed over her left one. The sunrays of the sun which would set down any minute made her face glow as if some Instagram filter was on in nature. He could see a glimpse of innocence as well as a stroke of pain in her eyes, but there was no hint of the flirtatious nature he mostly saw in her before.

Imlie said, "It's not common, getting kidnapped is a very rare thing. And you are a brave person indeed that you could bear the pain, fear and agony"

Imlie put her right hand on his left cheek to show him her support and he looked at her, mesmerized; he was getting comforted by a stranger.

Imlie noticed the song playing in the cell of a couple who sat in the next bench to them. Their bench was one meter apart making the song audible to her too. She felt like could relate with the song.

Off The Face(Chaeyoung) Language: English

"One touch and you got me stoned

Higher than I've ever known

You call the shots and I follow

Sunrise but the night's still young

No words, but we speak in tongues

If you let me, I might say too much"

As the song played in the background thanks to the couple who played for their own romantic mood, Imlie noticed a drop of tear escaping Aryan's eyes.
She went silent as if she was struck with a blazing sun; the breeze in the park made it feel like the cosmos were doing a slow romantic dance. And as she was there, her eyes was stuck on the expressionless face with the most expressive eyes she ever saw in both of her lives.

"Your touch blurred my vision

It's your world, and I'm just in it

Even sober I'm not thinking' straight"

Aryan wanted to meet this girl, not because he just wanted to return her umbrella but for the question he had in his mind, 'Why is she so similar to the Aryan I left behind three years back? Is she really similar to my old self?' He wanted to confirm his doubts, his heart was screaming she is just like you. But he himself had let go of his own self and finding another version of himself in someone else was like a sin for him. But he wanted to enjoy every moment of his old self. The very moment she gave him her kindness, he knew she was another version of his own past and he couldn't control his tears. The tear was born from his inner emotions and escaped before he could bind it in one place.

"Cause I'm off my face, in love with you

I'm out my head, so into you

And I don't know how you do it

But I'm forever ruined by you, ooh-ooh-ooh"

Imlie removed her hand from his cheeks without losing her cool and he was taken aback for a second but got his grip over his composure immediately.

"So you want to hear what happened there?"
"Yes"
Aryan started to narrate the events of what happened yesterday but as Imlie was tired, the sunrays made her more drowsy and fatigue took over her.

As he was telling about the incidents in a chronological order that happened with him, he felt something heavy on his left shoulder. As he looked sideways to his left he saw Imlie had fallen asleep keeping her head on his shoulder and also tangled her arms around his.

"This girl...Miss wake up, you shouldn't sleep here"
"Please let me sleep for one more minute"
"But you shouldn't sleep here"
"ABP stop yelling"
"Where am I yelling? And what is ABP?"
"Ajeeb(Strange) Bikat(Crooked) Praani(Creature)"

After hearing the meaning Aryan shook up from inside and he moved a little in his sitting position as he was surprised.
"ABP, stop moving let me sleep" said Imlie in her sleep.
"Again ABP, even in her sleep she will use this name to call me... This is unfair!"
Aryan got a little uncomfortable as her right breast brushed off his left arm but though he was trying his best to wake up the girl she didn't even faze in her sleep.

"Kya ghode bechke soti hai ye(Does she sleep after selling her horses: Idiom for careless sleeping)?" he uttered in frustration.

The clock was past six when Imlie's eyes opened. She had such a peaceful sleep after ages; she was surprised herself when she was diagnosed with insomnia the last time she checked up in the city the day she gave her entrance exam for City College. But today she slept really well, just like the sound sleep she used to have in her last life. She saw she was holding someone's arm near her chest.

"Holy moly what's wrong with me?" she freaked out and almost pushed the arm away.

Aryan, who was busy reading his emails from office, was surprised at the sudden force that hit his left arm.

"What the hell?" he exclaimed.

Imlie looked at his face, it felt like a dream to wake up and find Aryan beside her. Did she time travel back to reality? Was everything she faced was a nightmare? A smile passed her lips as tears accumulated in the corner of her eyes but she was struck back to reality when she realized the Aryan who was sitting in front of her was quite young. She calmed herself down and Aryan looked at her as if she was possessed.

"You okay? Need some water?"
Aryan took a water bottle which was kept near him on the bench and handed it to her. He had asked a boy to buy it for him as Imlie was sleeping like a dead body resting on his arms.
"Thank you", Imlie replied.
"You...do you know you wasted two hours of mine sleeping?"
Imlie looked at him confused.
"Don't you give me that confused look? I am Aryan Singh Rathore, pehli baat(first line) my time is precious as money, dusri baat(second line) I don't give the right to anyone to waste my time and teesri baat(third line)..."
"Udhaar rahi(is a credit)", Imlie completed the sentence for him which took Aryan by surprise.
"How do you know?" Aryan exclaimed.

Imlie went silent for a second and changed the topic, "Oh, the sun has set down already?"
"Yes, but you didn't say how did you know my third line?" enquired Aryan.
"Have I introduced myself yet?" asked Imlie.
"Yes..." suddenly Aryan realized the girl never said her name to him hence he corrected himself and said 'No'.

"Myself Imlie Bhuyan"
"Bhuyan?"
"It's an scheduled tribe surname, I belong from an adivasi village"
"Oh, those three dots on your chin"
"It's a tattoo that was made when I was born"
"Is it common at your place?"
"No, I was a special case"
"In what sense?"
"I was a kid with no father, the correct words are illegitimate child"

Aryan was baffled to hear the sudden words, he was speechless.

"Oh don't pity me, I am very much happy with myself. Who cares for a father whom I never saw"
"Oh"

Suddenly Aryan's cell phone beeped and he saw a message from his sister. He came out of the house though neither his sister nor his mother wanted to. Also his friend was about to come with him but he insisted on going alone, now they were worrying about him.

"Imlie, I think I need to leave; my family is worried for me"
"Oh, sure. Why not? But when will we meet again?"

Aryan stood straight and looked at her face.
He exclaimed, "We ain't meeting again"
"Why?" Imlie asked innocently.
"Because I was here to return your umbrella and I am done. I have nothing of yours with me anymore"
"Oh..." Imlie exclaimed as she tried to process his answer.
"Well, Bye" said Aryan.

As Aryan was leaving she pulled him back and said, "Aryan Singh Rathore, something should be a reason to meet again. Right?"

He was extremely surprised with the sudden pull.

Imlie took off one of her jhumka(earring), she took his right hand, kept the earring on his palm and closed his hand in the form of a fist.

"I want to see this handsome stoic face again. Will I have the chance with this bargain?"

A subtle smile passed on Aryan's face but he held his expressionless face intact.
But his stoic face felt more expressionless when he remembered that he would leave for Mumbai next Sunday, actually today was the day they were about to leave but since the doctor told him to rest they decided to stay back at Delhi for a week. Nishant will fly back to Mumbai tomorrow and they will follow up next Sunday. He was still a stranger to this girl and decided to not tell her about their plans.

But he remembered how she shared her birth story hence he took the bargain and replied, "Tomorrow 4:30 pm. Here at this park"

Imlie gave him a wide smile and asked, "Deal?"
"Deal, bye"
"Bye"

As Aryan waved Imlie goodbye and made his way to his car he decided to take everything as a week's fling. He wants to meet her again. No! He needs to meet himself again, the one he missed for the last three years.

After Aryan was gone Imlie sat in the same place for almost fifteen minutes looking at the stars in the sky when her phone suddenly rang. It was a call from the post office's number, she talked with her mother and grandmother who said thank you for sending the police there. Also they said the phone lines have been repaired by the government people and they abided by her instructions and didn't give Aditya's information to the police. After a hearty talk as she was about to keep her phone in her bag, the cell rang again. This was an unknown number which was not saved in her phone but a very familiar number indeed which she remembers from her past life. The number was from the landline phone of Tripathi Nivas.

"Hello" Imlie picked up the call.

"Hello Mousi, Chavi speaking. How are you? I am having my court marriage soon after the next three days" Chavi said in one breath.

"What?"
"Yes"
"Aditya said this?"
"Yes"
"Well Chavi had Malini visited Tripathi Nivas?"
"Today and tomorrow also at ten o'clock"
"Thanks for the information, keep the balcony door open. Time has almost come for you leave that house"
"Which day?"
"Day after tomorrow"
"Okay thanks mousi for the good wishes"

And she cut the phone. Chavi has kept Imlie's words perfectly. She acted the way she told her to. Chavi is a sharp girl indeed thought Imlie.

"Aditya, why are you not giving me a single reason to trust you?" Imlie muttered under her breath. She needs to hurry up.

As Imlie entered the entrance of City College which doesn't allow the hostellers to enter after 8:00 pm but non-hostellers can stay in the campus till 11:00 pm; she looked at the benches laid in front of the different college buildings. Few students were busy chatting sitting on the benches and stairs as they arrived a week before the start of the college. Imlie went past them and noticed Rajendra sitting with a guy on a bench and was busy talking with him. The moment she saw them, the next plan became very clear to her. The guy sitting with him was Rajendra's roommate whose photo he shared in his whatsapp status with the quotation, "Mr.Hacker"

And when Imlie enquired today about the reason behind the quotation and who is the guy, he texted back saying the guy won college's hacking competition last year when he was still a fresher. He was a senior to Rajendra and every new student by one year.

Imlie didn't waste a single moment and went near them. She said with a smile, "Guys do want to have a cup of coffee? Obviously my treat"

Songs Used:-

~Hall Of Fame(The Script)

~Off My Face(Chaeyoung Cover) [Justin BIeber]

Well how was today's update. Do share your opinions.
Yours Mimi